Enhanced variable declaration, one of the many enhancements that Microsoft added to SQL Server 2008 allows you to declare and initialize a value at the same time. This article shows you how to do it.  Read more...

This article illustrates different methods to insert data into a table, including the new Row Value Constructor, which simplifies the data insertion.  Read more...

This article illustrates the functionality of UPSERT via the MERGE command in SQL Server 2008.  Read more...

This article examines one of the T-SQL changes coming in SQL Server 2008: The hierarchyID.  Read more...

I have always wanted to be able to pass table variables to stored procedures. If a variable is able to be declared, it should have the functionality to be passed as necessary. I was thrilled to learn that SQL Server 2008 offers this functionality. Here are instructions on how to pass table variables (and the data in them) into stored procedures and functions.  Read more...

SQL Server 2008's new MERGE statement allows you to insert, update, or delete data based on certain join conditions in the same statement.  Read more...

SQL Server 2008 is well on its way to being complete and released with the release of the second CTP recently. There aren't a tremendous number of changes, but one of the more interesting ones is the changes to date and time handling in this new platform. The time and date datatypes have been separated and longtime SQL Server author Vincent Rainardi brings us a short look at how there can be used.  Read more...